Google Hosts Free Training for Local Small Business Owners, Jobseekers in Arizona

PHOENIX, AZ (June 12, 2019) — Visiting Google presenters and coaches hosted free “Grow with Google” workshops today at Burton Barr Central Library with onsite instruction provided to local jobseekers and small business leaders on integral digital skills needed in today’s business environment. Grow with Google, the tech company’s initiative to help create economic opportunities for Americans, has been touring the state hosting digital skills events.

“We’re excited to bring the national Grow with Google tour to Arizona, and to be here in Phoenix. Over the course of the day, we helped people learn new skills that are critical in today’s digital economy. And, to extend the impact of today’s event, we trained trainers from libraries, schools, and nonprofits across the region so that they can share these free resources with their communities going forward,” said Erica Swanson, Google’s Head of Community Engagement.

“With the rapid growth of technology and innovation in our state, Arizonans will benefit from this opportunity to learn from a global leader like Google,” said Sandra Watson, President & CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We thank Google for supporting our efforts to ensure those in the Arizona workforce have the skills they need for success.”

Google worked with Phoenix organizations to attract workshop attendees and promote the role of small businesses in Phoenix’s current and future economic success. were onsite at today’s event in support of Google’s digital training efforts. Workshops focused on digital skills, coding, online safety, data analytics and improving online business presence. One-on-one coaching sessions also took place with personal instruction on Google Spreadsheets and other GSuite tools.

Grow with Google has been on a national tour in partnership with America’s libraries. The tour will host digital skills workshops in libraries in all 50 states and will aim to support libraries’ digital skills offerings on an ongoing basis. Three quarters of public libraries assist patrons with job applications and interviewing skills, and 90% offer basic digital skills training.

Furthermore, Grow with Google delivers digital skills trainings directly to jobseekers and small businesses in their community. Google will also train library staff and nonprofit leaders on a range of Grow with Google’s free tools and curriculum they can use to help their patrons on a daily basis. Google staff will also lead hands-on workshops about online marketing for small businesses, search engine optimization, and spreadsheet basics. Attendees can also sign up for one-on-one training with Google staff.

To support their efforts, the initiative created the Grow with Google Partner Program to empower nonprofits, libraries, government agencies, educational institutions and other organizations with a range of digital skills resources. Organizations apply to the program and once accepted can use it as a hub for training content, tools and promotional materials. Partners can leverage customized toolkits for getting started, hosting trainings, and sharing Grow with Google programs and resources with their community.

Starting Monday, June 10th, 2019 libraries in Arizona will be able to apply for funds to kickstart their own digital skills programming. Last year, Grow with Google committed $1 million in microgrants to libraries across the country, through their partnership with the American Library Association.

According to Google research, four in five consumers use search engines to find information about local businesses, but forty-seven percent of U.S. small businesses don’t have a website – and only thirty-seven percent have claimed or updated their business information on a search engine.

Specifically, Grow with Google aims to help address the skills gap by preparing Americans for middle-skill jobs, positions that require some skills but not four year degrees. According to the National Middle Skills Initiative, middle skills jobs account for 52% of Arizona’s labor force. A recent study by Burning Glass and Capital One found that more than 8 in 10 middle-skill jobs (82%) require digital skills. Overall, middle-skill jobs average $20 per hour.

In their 2018 Economic Impact Report, Google announced that 26,000 organizations in the state generated $5.55 billion in economic activity by using Google’s search and advertising tools. The full report details Google’s economic impact state-by-state, and features the stories of businesses fueling that growth, creating job opportunities, and transforming their communities.

According to the American Library Association, nearly three-quarters of public libraries assist their patrons with job applications and interviewing skills, 90% help their patrons learn basic digital skills, and just under half provide access and assistance to entrepreneurs looking to start a business of their own.

Grow with Google is a new initiative to help create economic opportunities for Americans. The program draws on Google’s 20-year history of building products, platforms, and services that help people and businesses grow. Through this initiative, we aim to help everyone across America – those who make up the workforce of today and those who will drive the workforce of tomorrow – access the best of Google’s training and tools to grow their skills, careers, and businesses. For more information, please visit Google.com/Grow.

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter @azcommerce.